Living with arthritis can make staying active feel challenging – but movement doesn’t have to mean pushing through pain or following an intense exercise routine. Sometimes, the hardest part is getting started.

We are thrilled to launch our first-ever Peer Movement Program which combines the expertise of healthcare professionals, experienced movement instructors, and patient experts to help you build the confidence to move safely while living with arthritis!

The program was co-designed by our team of health and wellness professionals, researchers, patient experts, and the CAPA program team, led by Dr. Manuel Ester, PhD Kinesiology.

Over the program, you’ll build confidence to: 

• Get Moving — Learn about the benefits of movement for arthritis, how to get started safely, and take part in a gentle movement session with Manny Ester.
• Manage Pain & Fatigue — Understand why pain and fatigue fluctuate and learn practical ways to manage energy, respond to changing symptoms, and build strength with contributions from Matthew Smith and Jasmin Ma.
• Eat Well for Joint Health — Learn about nutrition and arthritis with Cristina Montoya, followed by gentle yoga and stretching with Carole Reece.
• Stay  Motivated — Explore pacing, barriers, and strategies for maintaining movement over time, with Ellen Wang leading a core and balance movement session.
• Put Ideas into Practice — Reflect on what you’ve learned, develop a realistic plan that works for you, and celebrate with a fun, adaptable movement session led by Manny Ester.
• Keep It Up with Two Follow-Up Check-Ins — Reconnect with the group, share what’s working, troubleshoot challenges, and support one another in keeping the momentum going.

Throughout the program, patient experts Jenny Lorca and Carole Reece will help guide conversations, bringing their own experiences of living with arthritis and creating space for participants to learn from one another.

What to Expect

Each session includes:

• A gentle, guided movement session led by experienced movement professionals, with exercises that can be modified for different abilities and comfort levels.
• Practical education on topics such as movement, pain and fatigue management, nutrition, pacing, and staying motivated.
• Interactive group conversations facilitated by patient experts, offering opportunities to share experiences, ask questions, and learn from one another.
• Take-home resources and reflection activities to help you continue building healthy movement habits between sessions.

Whether you participate standing, seated, or using mobility aids, you’ll be encouraged to move at your own pace. Every movement activity is optional, and modifications will be offered throughout the program so you can find what works best for you.

Is this Program Right for You?

This is a small-group program designed for adults living with arthritis who are interested in exploring movement in a supportive environment. No previous exercise experience is needed, and you don’t need to be at any particular fitness or mobility level.

Because peer support works best when people get to know and learn from one another, we’re looking for participants who are interested in taking part in the full program. We ask participants to attend all one hour sessions, contribute to a respectful and confidential environment, and come ready to learn and share with others. Cameras are encouraged where participants are comfortable using them to help build connection within the group.

The program includes gentle physical activity, so everyone will complete a short movement pre-screening questionnaire when registering. This helps us identify whether you may need to speak with a healthcare professional before participating. Movement can be adapted to different abilities, and you are always welcome to modify an activity, take a break, or simply observe.

Cost and Commitment

CAPA aims to make all our programs accessible and sustainable. For this small-group program, we are inviting participants who are able to make a $25 donation as a way of making a commitment to the program. This helps us cover program costs and offer additional rounds in the future. Participants can also choose to donate $50 to help support the participation of someone else.

Cost should never be a barrier to participating. If you are not in a position to make a donation, you can simply indicate this on the registration form. It will not affect your eligibility for the program.

How registration works

Space in the program is limited. Registration involves two simple steps:

1. Register and complete a short movement pre-screening. This helps us understand your needs and whether any follow-up is needed before you participate.
2. Confirm your participation. If your registration is confirmed, we’ll ask you to agree to our Peer Support Comfort & Community Agreement and Movement Participation Agreement.

CAPA will keep the information you provide during registration private and will only use it to administer and safely deliver the program.

Meet the Move Together Team

Move Together brings together people with lived experience of arthritis, movement professionals, healthcare professionals, and other experts. Throughout the series, participants will also learn and move with Ellen Wang, Dr. Jasmin Ma, Carole Reece, Matthew Smith, and Cristina Montoya, who bring expertise in areas including strength, balance, flexibility, pain and fatigue, nutrition, and adapting movement to individual needs.

Dr. Jasmin Ma is an Associate Professor of Teaching in Kinesiology at UBC and leads the Movement 4 All (M4A) Lab. A kinesiologist by training, her research focuses on preparing health and exercise professionals to integrate inclusive physical activity into healthcare and supporting strength-training behaviour change.

When she’s not working, you’ll likely find her playing beach volleyball, bike touring, open-water swimming, active commuting, or restoring caloric balance with doughnuts.

Manny is passionate about the power of movement. His research works to help people with arthritis become and stay physically active. Manny works with healthcare teams and people living with arthritis to integrate physical activity promotion into routine care. Together, they developed Just One Move.ca, Canada’s first interactive digital platform for helping people with rheumatoid arthritis move more and live well. 

Hello my name is Ellen.

I live with Sjogren’s and Raynaud’s.

I love to move and teach movement.

My PhD work is in patient and public leadership, as well as arthritis and exercise.

Matt is a Registered Nurse with 14 years of experience working in chronic pain care. He currently works with Pain Care BC, leading provincial initiatives to improve access, navigation, and capacity for pain care across British Columbia. He is passionate about supporting people living with pain and advancing person centred/trauma-informed care. Outside of work, Matt enjoys spending time with his family, hiking, backcountry camping, and college football.

Carole is a trained yoga teacher and patient advocate living with spondyloarthritis, osteoarthritis, degenerative disc disease, and chronic migraine. Over decades of practicing yoga, she has adapted her own practice through surgeries, chronic pain, and changes in mobility. Her experience has shaped her belief that yoga can be gentle, accessible, and adaptable to different bodies and abilities.

CAPA Program Team

Laurie has lived with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis since age 14 and is CAPA’s part-time Executive Director. Before her diagnosis, she was a competitive dancer and performed in a modern ballet. Through surgeries, chronic pain and raising two children, she has continued to find ways to move that work for her body – including aquafit, Zumba and yoga at a supportive studio where adaptation is encouraged.

Olivia is a graphic and web designer with CAPA. She is passionate about harnessing the power of visual communication to make research and information more accessible, engaging, and impactful. Olivia lives in Toronto and loves to walk, run, and bike around the city.